Transepidermal water loss during conventional phototherapy in nonhemolytic hyperbilirubinemia term infants

The evaporation rate from the skin was measured in 40 healthy term infants and 40 non-hemolytic jaundice term infants who required phototherapy. All infants were born at the gestational age of 38-41 weeks. The method for measurement of evaporation rate was based on determination of the water pressure gradient close to the skin surface. Conventional phototherapy was given in open cribs. In the phototherapy group, non of the infants had received phototherapy before the start of measurement. Evaporation rate was measured at the chest, interscapular and buttock. The measurement was made before phototherapy, 30 minutes, and 6 hours after starting phototherapy. The mean evaporation rate increased from 7.2 to 7.8 and 8.4 g/m2 h, respectively (p<0.001). In the control group, the measurement was made at the consecutive time as in the phototherapy group. The mean of the evaporate rate was 7.3, 7.6 and 7.5 g/m2 h (p=0.30). We conclude that conventional phototherapy in full term infants in open cribs increases transepidermal water loss.